Electric furnace.



C. H. FULTON CCCCCCCCCCCCCC E.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 7.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES I-I. FUITON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO METALLURGICAL LABORATORIES, INCORFORATED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

To all 'whom t may concern.' f

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. FULTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Furnaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the electrical distillation of ores and metal-bearing materials.

In my pending application Serial No. 135,631, iled December 7 1916, I have illustrated and described an electric distilling furnace in which the ore or material being distilled is contained in briquets or solid objects that form part of the electric circuit used to operate the furnace, said briquets or objects being arranged in the distilling chamber of the furnace, between the electrodes of same, in such a manner that they form a fixed resistor. In the practical operation of said furnace the briquets or objects that contain the material to be distilled are arranged in the distilling chamber in such a manner that ya number of vertically-disposed columns are formed, which columns are connected together in pairs by means of. rigid, non-metallic conductors or connectors arranged in engagement with the upper ends of adjacent columns.

- The main object of my `present invention isl to provide a means for electrically connecting the coperating columns of briquets together in such a manner that there is no liability of thecircuit being interrupted, in case one column of a pair shrinks or becomes slightly deformed, due to arcing, or any other cause. j

Another object is to provide a connector for the purpose described, which is interlocked with the columns or conducting elements with which it coperates in such a manner that it tends to hold said columns in parallel relation.

Another object is to provide a novel means for electrically connecting together two angularly-disposed electrical conducting elen ments, one of which is liable to move relatively to the other.

And still another object is to provide a novel composition .of matter for binding together a plurality of briquets or objects of.

the character previously mentioned that are arranged in superimposed relation in the distilling chamber of an electric furnace, so as to form a fixed resistor. Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l of the drawings is a vertical sectional view of an electric distilling furnace, showing a plurality of briquet columns arranged in the distilling chamber and connected together in accordance with my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

My broad idea consists in connecting two angularly-disposed, stiff or inflexible conducting elements together in such a manner that the electrical contact between said elements will not be broken, in case the angular position of said elements becomes changed, and while I have herein illustrated the invention embodied in a connecting means for two briquet columns that form part of the electric circuit used to operate an electric distilling furnace, I wish it to be understood that my invention is no t limited to this particular use.-

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the distilling chamber of an electric furnace, and B designates briquets that contain material which is to be distilled, said briquets being formed in the manner described in mypending application previously referred to. The briquets B are arranged in the distilling chamber of the furnace, so as to form a plurality of verticallydisposed columns X, and said columns are connected together in pairs by means of conductors or connectors C arranged in engagement with the upper ends of adjacent columns. The furnace can either be provided with a star connection comprising a,

neutral conductor or electrode of substantially star shape and three other segmentalshaped conductors or electrodes, each of which is aranged in engagement with the lower ends of one pair of briquet columns, as described in said pending application, or the furnace can be provided with a series connection, as herein shown.

One feature of my'present invention consists in a means for connectingv the upper ends of the briquet columns X together in such a manner that if one column of a pair shrinks or breaks down slightly, due tovarcing in the column, or any other cause, the connector C at the upper ends of the two briquet columns constituting said pair will remain in engagement with both columns. The connectors C are stilf or inflexible members formed from material that is a good conductor of electricity, and each of said connectors is interlocked with the briquet columns with which it coperates in such a manner that it tends to hold said columns in parallel relation to each other. In addition to the interlocking connection between each connector and its coperating briquet columns, means is provided for insuring a good electrical contact between said elements, in case the relative position of said elements becomes changed when the furnace is in operation. In the form of my invention herein shown, each of the connectors C is provided with two holes l that receive pins or extensions 2 that project upwardly from the briquet columns X with which said connector coperates, said pins or extensions being formed from material that is a good conductor of electricity. The connector C is arranged at substantially right angles to the (briquet columns in engagement with the upper ends of said columns, and the holes l in the connector are enough larger than the pins A2 to permit the connector to assume an inclined position with relation to the briquet columns, as shown in Fig. 3, without causing the connector to bind on said pins. In order toinsure a good electrical contact between the connector and the briquet columns, the annular spaces between the side walls of the holes l in the connector, and the exterior of the pins 2 are filled with a granular conducting material 3, such, for example, as finely divided graphite or carbon. If desired, the holes 1 in the connector can be made slightly tapered, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the granular conducting material 3 will pack snugly around the pins 2 on the briquet columns. Plates 4 of graphite or other suitable conducting material are preferably arranged at the ends of the briquet columns, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to prevent injury. to said columns, in case arcs form at the points where the briquet columns engage the connectors or electrodes with which they cooperate.y While I prefer to form each column X from a plurality of briquets B arranged in superimposed relation, as herein shown, I wish it to be understood that it is immaterial, so far as the connecting means for the column is concerned, whether each column is formed from a number of short objects or briquets, or by a' single member or object, as described in my application for patent previously referred to.

When a number of briquets or relatively short objects containing the material to be distilled are arranged in superimposed relation in the distilling chamber of a furnace so as to form a resistor between the electrodes of a furnace, it is desirable to securelyconnect the briquets or objects of each column togethenso as to insure a good electrical contact between same and also eliminate the possibility of the briquets becoming disarranged when the furnace is in operation. This can be accomplished in various ways, but I prefer to cement the briquets of each column together by a substance that is applied to the ends of the briquets, as indicated by the reference character 5 in Fig. 3, the subst-ance that I prefer to use for this purpose consisting of a composition formed from finely divided material that is a good conductor of electricity, mixed with a suitable binding agent. The composition that I prefer to use is formed from fine graphite and coal tar pitch, mixedin proportions of approximately 40% of pitch and 60% of graphite, as I have found that such a mixture securely binds the briquets together and forms a good electrical connection between the briquets after the volatile hydrocarbons in the pitch have been driven ofi", in the operation of preheating the briquets, prior to the beginning of the distilling operation.

When the briquet columns are connected together in the manner above described there is little liability of-the circuit being interrupted, due to shrinkage of one column 100 of a pair of briquet columns, owing to the fact that the connector C that coperates with said columns can rock downwardly, or, in other words, follow thel column that shrinks,` without breaking the electrical 105 contact between the connector and the briquet columns.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent,` is:

l. The combination of two angularlydisposed stiff conducting elements formed of non-metallic conducting material and arranged in an electric circuit in engagement with each other, and a connecting 115 means between said elements, comprising a part on `one element that projects into a hole in the other element, thereby permitting one element to move slightly with relation to the other without breaking the-circuit.

2. The combination of two non-metallic, stiff conducting elements arranged at an angle to each other and provided with interlocking portions, and a granular conducting substance in the joint between said ele- 125 ments for maintaining electrical contact between said elements.

3. The combination of two conducting elements, one of which is provided with a portion that projects into an opening in the 130 other element, and a granular substance in said opening that coperates with said portion to electrically connect said elements together.

Ll. The combination of two electrical conducting elements arranged one above the other, the upper element having a tapered hole that receives a projection on the other element, and a granular conducting material arranged in said hole so as to coperate with said projection to establish electrical connection between said elements.

5. In an electric furnace, a sti electrical conductor, an object arranged in engagement with said conductor which forms part of the circuit in which the conductor is arranged, and a connecting means between said elements which holds them in operative position with relation to each` other but permits one element to move slightly with relation to the other without breaking the circuit.`

6. In an electric furnace, two conducting elements 'arranged in the same circuit and electrically connected together by a projection on one of said elements that is arranged in the opening in the other element that contains a granular conducting material. y 7. In an electric furnace, two conducting elements arranged in the same electric circuit and electrically connected together by a projection on one of said elements that is surrounded by a granular conducting material carried by the other element, said other element being provided with a portion that confines said granular material and causes it to pack'around the projection with which it coperates.

8. In an electric furnace, two stifl" conducting elements arranged in the same electric circuit in such a manner that one supports the other, and a non-metallic electri-l cal connecting means between said elements which permits one element to move slightly with relation to the other without breaking the circuit.

9. In an electric furnace, the combination of two conducting elements arranged in the same electric circuit, a projection on one of said elements, a tapered hole in the other of said elements for receiving said projection, and a granular material in said hole that surrounds said projection.

10. In an electric furnace, the combination of two conducting elements arranged in the same circuit and positioned 'at substantially right angles to each other, an extension on one `of said elements that projects into an opening in the other element of such `size that the angular position of said elements can change without causing .the extension to bind in said opening, and a granular conducting material in said opening that contacts with said extension.

11. In an electric distilling furnace, a plurality of vertically-disposed conducting elements arranged in substantially parallel relation to cach other in the circuit used to operate the furnace and containing the substance to be distilled, a sti or inflexible connector arranged in engagement with the upper ends of said elements for establishing electrical connection between same, and means for maintaining an electrical contact between' said elements and connector, even though the form or dimensions of one of said elements becomes changed slightly when the furnace is in operation.

12. In an electric distilling furnace, a plurality of vertically-disposed conducting elementsv arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other in the circuit used to operate the furnace and containing the substance to be distilled, a stift' or inieXible connector arranged in engagement with the upper ends of said elements for establishing electrical connection between same, and means whereby one of said elements can shrink or become deformed slightly without breaking the electrical contact between said elements and connector.

13; In an electric distilling furnace, a plurality of vertically-disposed conducting elements arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other in the circuit used to operate the furnace and containing the substance to be distilled, a stiff or inflexible connector arranged in engagement with the upper e'nds of said elements for establishing electrical connection between same, and a granular conducting material for electrically connecting said elements to said connector. j

14. In an electric distilling furnace, a plurality of vertically-disposed conducting elements arranged in the circuit used to operateV the furnace and containing the substance to be distilled, and a stiff or inflexible connector arranged in engagement with the upper ends of said elements and interlocked with same.

15. In an electric distilling furnace, a plurality of vertically-disposed conducting elements arranged in the circuit used to operate the furnace and containing the substance to be distilled, a stiff or inflexible connector, coperating interlocking portions on said elements and connector, and a granular conducting material arranged in the joints of said interlocking portions.`

16. In an electric distilling furnace, a plurality of vertically-disposed conducting elements arranged in the circuit used to operate the furnace and containing the substance to be distilled, a stiff or inflexible connector, and extensions on the upper ends of said elements that project into holes in said connector.

17. In an electric distilling furnace, a plurality of vertically-disposed conducting elements arranged in the circuit used to operate the furnace and containing the substance to be distilled, a stil or inieXible connector, extensions on the upper ends of saidy elements, that project into holes in said connector, and a granular conducting material arranged in said holes in engagement with said eXtensions.

18. In an electric furnace, the combination of tWo conducting elements arranged vertically and in parallel relation to each other, a connector arranged in engagement with the upper ends of said elements and provided With tapered holes, extensions on said elements that project into said holes, and a granular conducting material in said holes that coperates With said extensions.

19. A. composition for connecting together briquets of the character described, composed of finely divided graphite and pitch mixed in approximately the proportions of 60% of graphite and 40% of pitch.

CHARLES H. FULTON. 

